Short-term results of hemi-resurfacing for osteonecrosis of the femoral head.

Abstract

Published evidence has supported the use of femoral head resurfacing for patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Between June 1999 and April 2001 we prospectively studied 15 femoral heads resurfaced in 12 patients with the Conserve Resurfacing Hemiarthroplasty. The male to female ratio was 8:4 and the mean age 38.7 years (range 26-60). The mean follow-up was 22.8 months (range 4-36). The senior author performed all procedures. There was one case of Ficat stage II, 9 cases of stage III and 5 cases of early stage IV. The mean time from onset of symptoms to surgery was 33.5 months (range 9-60). There were no intra or post-operative complications associated with any of the hemiarthroplasty procedures. Nine of the fifteen patients had a poor result that warranted revision surgery within two years of prosthesis implantation. We conclude that in our hands the results of femoral resurfacing hemiarthroplasty are unpredictable and advise caution when recommending the procedure to patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head. (Hip International 2004; 14: 174-81).